Glue-stopping element for glue-coating device

ABSTRACT

A glue-stopping element for a glue-coating device has a driver element and a ball valve. The ball valve, which is clasped between an upper splint and a lower splint, is driven by the driver element to alternately rotate clockwise and counter-clockwise, thereby starting or stopping the glue flow quickly. A biasing ring is mounted in a ring channel in the upper splint so that when the ball valve is worn and damaged due to the extended use, the upper splint will remain abutted the ball valve due to the pressure of the biasing to prevent glue from overflowing into the periphery of the ball valve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a glue-stopping element for aglue-coating device, and more particularly to a glue-stopping elementwith which it is easy to start or stop the glue flow and prevent theglue from overflowing.

2. Description of the Related Art

With reference to FIG. 6, a conventional glue-coating device comprises aglue-supply barrel (81) and a base (82). The barrel (81) is mounted ontop of the base (82). A piston (83) is received into the barrel (81) topush the glue downwards. The base (82) has a cylindrical cavity. A valve(84) with a circular cross section and a T-shaped passage (85) isrotatably mounted in the base (82) in the cylindrical cavity. A nozzle(86), which serves as an outlet for the glue, is mounted at the bottomof the base (82) and a filling tube (87) is provided on a side of thebase (82).

In the process of glue coating, the valve (84) is rotated in a firstdirection, causing the barrel (81) to become connected to andcommunicate with the nozzle (86) through the passage (85). The glue canthen flow from the barrel (81) through the passage (85) and then intoand out of the nozzle (86). When the valve (84) is rotated in a seconddirection, the connection between the barrel (81) and the nozzle (86) isbroken and the glue flow out of the nozzle (86) is stopped. Upon furtherrotation of the valve (84), the passage (85) connects the barrel (81) tothe filling tube (87) so that additional glue can be added to the barrel(81) through the filling tube (87).

However, surface damage to the valve (84) can result from its constantrotation relative to the inner wall of the base (82), to such a degreethat glue overflow into the periphery of the valve (84) can accumulateand hinder the rotation of the valve (84).

Therefore, the invention provides a glue-stopping element for aglue-coating device to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide aglue-stopping element for a glue-coating device, with which it is easyto start or stop the glue flow and prevent the glue from overflowing.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a glue-coating device with aglue-stoping accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view in partial cross section of theglue-coating device with the glue-stopping element in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the glue-stopping element forthe glue-coating device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the glue-stopping element for theglue-coating device in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the glue-stopping element for theglue-coating device in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is an operational view in partial cross section of a conventionalglue-coating device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, a glue-coating device comprises a seat(10), a base (20), a nozzle assembly (30), a driving element, and abarrel (40). The seat (10) is mounted on the base (20). The nozzleassembly (30) is held in a front end of the base (20) and the barrel(40) is held in a front end of the seat (10).

A first set of supporting arms (11) extends out of the front of an upperend of the seat (10) to support the barrel (40). A second set ofsupporting arms (12) extends out of the lower end of the seat (10) toform a chamber wherein the nozzle assembly (30) is received. A motor(13) is mounted on the upper end of the seat (10). An upper shaft (14)connects to the shaft of the motor (13) and extends downwards into thechamber. A heat isolation plate (15) is provided between the seat (10)and the base (20). The barrel (40) is connected to the nozzle assembly(30) through a tube (41) provided at the front end of the seat (10). Twoshoulders (21) are formed in the base (20) at the lower end of thechamber to support the nozzle assembly (30). Two projections (24) extendout of the front end of the base (20) to clamp the nozzle assembly (30)on both sides, respectively. A lower shaft (35) is mounted in an upperend of the nozzle assembly (30) and is connected to the upper shaft(14).

With reference to FIGS. 1-2, the nozzle assembly (30) comprises avertical passage (31) axially defined therein, and a skewed passage (32)defined therein and connected to an upper end of the vertical passage(31). A feed passage (42) is defined in the tube (41) and connected tothe skewed passage (32). A threaded shaft (33) is mounted in thevertical passage (31) and an upper end of the threaded shaft (33) issecurely fastened to the lower axle (35). The glue in the barrel (40)flows down into the feed passage (42), through the skewed passage (32)and then into the vertical passage (31). The motor (13) turns thethreaded shaft (33), through the upper axle (14) and the lower axle(35), which pushes the glue down the vertical passage (31).

With further reference to FIG. 2-3, a glue-stopping element for aglue-coating device in accordance with the present invention is mountedbetween the base (20) and the seat (10) and comprises a driver elementand a ball valve (73). The ball valve (73) has a through hole (74)defined in a center thereof. An upper splint (37) and a lower splint(38) are mounted in a lower end of the nozzle assembly (30) to receivethe ball valve (73) and can be made of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon).

With further reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the driver element has apneumatic actuator (50), an actuating arm, a driving rod assembly and ashell (22). The pneumatic actuator (50) is mounted in the seat (10) andhas a threaded end (51). The actuating arm comprises a U-shaped block(53) and an arm (55). The U-shaped block (53) has a base and twoextended sides (532), which define a channel (534). The base has a firstorifice (531), which is threaded, and the two extended sides (532) eachhave a second orifice (533). The U-shaped block (53) is connected to thethreaded end (5 1) of the pneumatic actuator (50) through the threadedfirst orifice (531) and a retaining nut (52). The arm (55) has aconnecting end (551), which is narrower than the remainder of the aim(55). An aperture (552) is defined in the center of the connecting end(551) and an opening (553) is defined in the center of the opposite endof the arm (55). A slot (554) is defined adjacent to and incommunication with the opening (553). A threaded aperture (555) isdefined in a top end of the arm (55) and in communication with the slot(554). The connecting end (551) is inserted into the channel (534) andpivotally connected to the U-shaped block (53) with a pin (54) throughthe second orifices (533) and the aperture (552).

The driving rod assembly has a first driving rod (60) and a seconddriving rod (70). The first driving rod (60) has a head (61) integrallyformed in an end thereof and a groove (62), which is defined in the head(61). The second driving rod (70) has flats (71) formed at a first endthereof to be inserted into the groove (62), and a neck (72) formed atthe opposite end. The ball valve (73) is mounted on the neck (72).

With further reference to FIGS. I and 2, the shell (22) is mounted atthe bottom of the base (20) and two bearings (57) are mountedrespectively in two sides of the shell (22). The arm (55) is receivedinto the shell (22). The first driving rod (60) is then inserted intothe shell (22) through the bearings (57) and the opening (553). When thefirst driving rod (60) is inserted through the opening (553), a setscrew (56) is used in the threaded aperture (555) to secure the firstdriving rod (60) to the arm (55). With reference to FIG. 4, the firstdriving rod (60) and the second driving rod (70) of the driving assemblyare alternately rotated back and forth by the pneumatic actuator (50)through the actuating arm.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, a housing is defined in a lower end ofthe nozzle assembly (30) wherein the second driving rod (70) isreceived. A bottom plate (36) is mounted on the lower end of the nozzleassembly (30) to support the second driving rod (70). A needle-nosenozzle (39) is mounted in the lower end of the nozzle assembly (30). Theupper splint (37) and the lower splint (38) have concave inner walls toclasp the ball valve (73). A ring holder (372) is integrally formed onan upper end of the upper splint (37) and a biasing ring (373) ismounted around the ring holder (372). A first through hole (371) isdefined in the upper splint (37) and a second through hole (381) isdefined in the lower splint (38). Both the first through hole (371) andthe second through hole (381) are aligned with the hole (74).

In the process of glue coating, the glue in the vertical passage (31) isdriven by the rotation of the threaded shaft (33) and pushed into thefirst through hole (371), the hole (74) and the second through hole(381) in turn and out of the needle-nose nozzle (39). With thereciprocating movement of the pneumatic actuator (50), the driving rodassembly is alternately rotated clockwise and counter-clockwise, and inturn, bringing the hole (74) in the ball valve (73) alternately in andout of alignment with the first through hole (371) and the secondthrough hole (381) to achieve a glue-stopping effect.

When the ball valve (73) becomes worn or damaged due to extended use,the upper splint (37) will remain abutted to the ball valve (73) due topressure from the biasing ring (373) and prevent the glue fromoverflowing into the periphery of the ball valve (73).

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters ofshape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of theinvention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning ofthe terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

1. A glue-stopping element for a glue-coating device having a base, aseat, and a nozzle assembly, wherein the glue-stopping element ismounted between the base and the seat of the glue-coating device andcomprises: a driver element; a ball valve operatively connected to anddriven by the driver element and having a hole defined in a centerthereof; and an upper splint and a lower splint mounted around the ballvalve to receive the ball valve.
 2. The glue-stopping element for aglue-coating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driver elementhas a pneumatic actuator with a threaded end; an actuating arm securelyattached to the threaded end of the pneumatic actuator and comprising aU-shaped block, having a base with a threaded first orifice engagingwith the threaded end on the pneumatic actuator and two extended sides,each with a second orifice, forming a channel thereby, and an arm havinga narrow connecting end with an aperture connected to the U-shapedblock, an opening in an end opposite to the narrow connecting end, anadjacent slot communicating with the opening and a threaded aperturecommunicating with the slot; a driving rod assembly connected with thearm of the actuating arm and having a first driving rod connected to andextending through the opening in the arm of the actuating arm and formedwith an integrated head at an end wherein a groove is defined, and asecond driving rod connected to the groove in the first driving rod andhaving flats formed at an end of the second driving rod to mate with thegroove in the first driving rod and a neck formed at an end opposite tothe flats, wherein the ball valve is mounted on the neck.
 3. Theglue-stopping element for a glue-coating device as claimed in claim 2,wherein the U-shaped block of the driving element is mounted on thethreaded end of the pneumatic actuator through the threaded firstorifice and secured with a retaining nut.
 4. The glue-stopping elementfor a glue-coating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connectingend of the arm is inserted into the channel in the U-shaped block andpivotally mounted with a pin through the two second orifices and theaperture.
 5. The glue-stopping element for a glue-coating device asclaimed in claim 4 further comprising a shell wherein two bearings aremount at two ends, wherein the shell is adapted to be mounted in thebase of the glue-coating machine, the arm is received into the shell andthe first driving rod is inserted through the bearings and the openingand secured to the arm with a set screw through the threaded aperture.6. The glue-stopping element for a glue-coating device as claimed inclaim 5, wherein the upper splint and the lower splint, respectivelyhave concave inner walls to clasp the ball valve and made ofpolytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon); the upper splint further has a ringholder integrally formed on the upper splint; and a biasing ring mountedaround the ring holder.
 7. The glue-stopping element for a glue-coatingdevice as claimed in claim 6, wherein a first through hole is defined inthe upper splint and a second through hole is defined in the lowersplint, and both the first through hole and the second through hole arerespectively configured to align with the hole in the ball valve.